Contact Me
Interdisciplinary
Experience Level: Gold
​
First Experience: Photonics Summer Research
Second Experience: Research: Thin Film Coating Characterization
​
Duration: First experience (1.5 months, 35 hrs/week)
Second Experience ( 10 weeks, 40 hrs/week )
First Experience:
​
Info website: https://upl.umbc.edu/summer-research-experience/
​
Description: In the Ultrafast Photonics Lab, the first project involved building an autocorrelator assembly to measure the pulse width of a roughly 10 picosecond Nd: Vanadate laser. The second project involved building an ultrafast pump-probe reflectivity laser assembly to measure the photoinduced carrier lifetime of semiconductor materials.
​
Reflection:
This experience was challenging and interesting because it involved learning advanced concepts in a completely different field. Building the autocorrelator and ultrafast pump-probe assembly required a lot of patience and determination to obtain the proper results. Nonetheless, undertaking a lifelong project, like working to solve one of the grand challenges, requires passion and perseverance. This is because not everything might go according to plan and a trial-and-error process might be needed. I was attracted to this experience because I aspire to work in emerging technologies in the biomedical field. Laser applications are widely used in medicine, such as in cellular microscopy, bioimaging, manufacturing of medical devices, surgery, etc.
​
Relation to Grand Challenge Engineer Better Medicine:
Due to the extremely short pulse duration of an ultrafast pulse laser, no heat diffusion occurs during the interaction with materials. This aids in the micro-manufacturing of medical devices requiring high quality, and versatility. In addition, it is used during high-precision surgical operations.
​
Second Experience:
​
Info website: https://lasers.colostate.edu/optical-coatings-for-ultrastable-cavities/
​
Description: In the Lab for Advanced Lasers and Extreme Photonics at Colorado State University, the summer research involved learning and applying optical coating characterization techniques, such as the Ellipsometry metrology technique. This technique is non-destructive and it takes advantage that the polarized reflected light due to material interaction contains information linked to the material's properties and optical properties. This in-depth research supports the LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observer) project. The key accomplishments involved being able to fit a complex dispersion model with experimental data for different thin film coating materials and annealing conditions. Analyzed the model-related energy parameters, corroborating correlation with mechanical loss of coating material.
​
Reflection:
This interdisciplinary experience was very rewarding. I was able to learn a lot about how optics is applied in material science. It widened my perspective on the many different applications of optics. I also learned a lot about solid-state physics and material science. I was able to develop my communication skills in a virtual setting since this experience was held remotely. Also, I believe that I was able to improve my work ethic; became more organized and self-disciplined. I learned new technical skills related to optical thin film characterization, such as Ellipsometry, which is used in thin-film coating manufacturing. This experience allowed me to develop a strategic mindset to quickly get accustomed to interdisciplinary topics.
​
Relation to Grand Challenge Engineer Better Medicine:
Thin-film coatings are widely used in the medical device industry and in research. They are implemented since thin film coatings can enhance the durability of devices. There is a higher demand for thin-film coatings due to the need for medical lasers that can be used in a wide variety of high accuracy surgical procedures. Spectroscopic Ellipsometry or Ellipsometry is utilized to characterize and check for the quality of thin films while being manufactured.
​
Program-wide learning:
Experience 1:
This experience required a lot of persistence since it mainly involved handling lasers that had a pulse width (period) on the picosecond scale. The measurements for each laser configuration required each optomechanical component to be appropriately located at a specific spot to get a good signal. Thus, the low margin for error while undertaking each experimental procedure resulted in a constant trial and error process that took days. Persistence was required to be able to move forward after things would not go as planned.
​
Experience 2:
Similar to the first experience, this experience required a lot of persistence. The fact that I was implementing a new model from their software to fit different coating materials' dispersion data, required a lot of research and many trials. It took days or even weeks before I could figure out the correct initial parameters of the model to fit the dispersion data correctly.
​
Experience specific learning objective:
​
Identify the different disciplines that contribute to the solution of a complex problem.
For both experiences, the different disciplines involved are physics, material science, and electrical engineering. I was able to improve my ability to work in and across multidisciplinary teams to solve complex problems. I also became aware that any problem could be solved through an analytical approach which is extensively developed in engineering courses.
​
Describe and apply bridging strategies that facilitate the conscious integration of different disciplines
Bridging strategies that took place were brainstorming sessions. An open-minded, and respectful attitude was sensed and applied; everyone could share their different opinions and perspectives related to their own discipline.
​
Core Learning Objective:
Describe and apply strategies for creating common ground between different disciplinary perspectives.
In both experiences, I worked with electrical engineers, physicists, and material scientists; there was some common ground with respect to the fundamentals of optics taught in physics courses, materials, as well as signal acquisition. Nonetheless, apart from the basics, everyone contributed with their advanced discipline-specific knowledge when needed. Communication was key to create common ground between the different disciplines.
OUR NEW PLACE
TEAM: First Experience